Korea and India Launch Landmark Vocational Education Project
New Delhi: The Republic of Korea and India have launched a landmark project to strengthen vocational education and training in India, with a focus on mechatronics. The project, titled “Strengthening Vocational Education and Training in Mechatronics in India,” aims to cultivate practical talent supporting India’s manufacturing and new industry growth.
The project, a first-of-its-kind technical cooperation initiative between the two governments, will establish a mechatronics Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) system in Bhopal’s Multi-Purpose Demonstration School (DMS) by 2027. The project will develop curriculum, textbooks, and training equipment, and invite Indian educators to Korea for training.
Ambassador Lee Seong Ho of the Republic of Korea to India said, “This project holds significant meaning as it is the first technical cooperation initiative jointly pursued by the Korean and Indian governments. The Korean government will be a steadfast partner of India to fulfill ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’ vision.”
Sanjay Kumar, Secretary of the Ministry of Education, highlighted the potential for Korea’s vocational education model to be adopted nationwide. “This initiative will systematically introduce the economic growth process based on Korea’s education system in skilled human resources development and disseminate it across India.”
Dinesh Prasad Saklani, Director of the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), expressed his expectation of the project’s success, stating, “Based on this project, the model of vocational education scheme will be adopted by other Regional Institutes of Education (RIEs) nationwide and applied to their DMSs as well.”
The project is expected to contribute to India’s “Make in India” policy and create a foundation for future industrial partnership between Korea and India. KOICA (Korea International Cooperation Agency) will work closely with Indian stakeholders to ensure the project’s success, focusing on benchmarking Korea’s Meister High School model and enhancing practical instruction capacities of local teachers.
The launching ceremony, attended by approximately 250 representatives from key institutions in both countries.
